by Mrs. Anastasia Rebello
As I was praying and waiting on the Lord as to what should I preach, The Holy Spirit took me back to those days when I was doing the ministry of word and was asked to preach on woman. And since we are celebrating Woman’s day on March 8, I thought it would be appropriate for me to preach on this topic. Men please do not think that this makes women feel superior or inferior, but in the light of God’s word we will realize that we are both complimentary to each other.
Revelations 12:1- 6. This chapter 12 paints a picture of a woman whose identity is much debated upon. A traditional Roman Catholic interpretation is that she is Mary, who is also the New Eve, some other opinions are that she is the heavenly Jerusalem, personified wisdom or the church. The woman is shown as the defeated one who flees with her child in the womb in the desert from the 7 head and 10 horned dragon. What is this 7 head dragon? Can we compare it to the 7 fold oppression in our society. So lets face the Dragon.
- A few years ago there was a census taken and it showed that 39% of Indian women are literate. Illiterate women carry the triple burden of manual labor, domestic work and social repression. There is a strong bias in favour of the male child which has resulted in lesser attention given to the health, nutrition, education, talent and skills of the girl child. Her potential is stunted as a result.
- The marriage market, dowry, bride burning, forced prostitution.
- Female feticide and mutilation
- Women rendered shelterless by demolition, evictions and anti poor policies. Exclusion of women from housing plans and property rights.
- Exploitation of working women: Molesting, harassing, blackmailing and underpaying.
- The oppressive legal system – especially in the matter of property rights and personal laws based on religions.
- Exploitation by media ads, movies, modeling and prostitution.
Now lets take a look at Jewish culture and tradition. In the Old Testament you see several examples of how God used woman. In the creation story God used the rib of a man so that he could create a woman. Why the rib? There is an explanation which I like very much---RIB – so that she could be beside him. Not from his head to sit on ,or from his foot to be stamped on. That is why I said we are meant to be complimentary. Here are a few examples in the Old Testament where you see how God helped and used woman in His mighty plans.
- Hagar: Who helped the servant girl Hagar, when she was driven out of the household of Abraham? God gave her a son, He gave her a future.
- Miriam: God was with Miriam the sister of Moses when she saved his life. He was with Miriam when she danced on the shores of the Red sea and sang the victory song when God drowned Pharaoh’s chariots and saved the life of the Israelites.
- Deborah (Judges4:4-5) ( Prophetess and a judge): Deborah a married woman held 2 offices: One as a prophetess and one as a ruler or judge. God strengthened the hands of Deborah who defeated the mighty Sisera (Canaanite General) and his 900 iron chariots and led the children of Israel to victory.
- Judith: To the widow Judith he gave courage that she cut off the head of Holofernes the terrible enemy of the Israelites.
- Esther : To Queen Esther he gave wisdom, who caused the corrupt Haman to be hung high.
- He comforted the mother of seven Maccabees as she witnessed the death of her sons for their faith.
- He was with Rahab, Ruth and Namaan’s little servant girl.
But in the New Testament times, the Jewish women had stopped being active in temple or Synagogue worship. Talmudic (Oral) tradition had relegated women to an inferior and subservient and certainly unbiblical role. Jewish society was male dominated patriarchal society. Jewish women were encouraged to study the Torah. Around the age of 12, the boys were given special classes at local synagogues to read and write Scripture especially in view of the Bar Mitzwah ceremony. This rite made them certified mature Jews with specific rights and duties which woman could not have, The women were not allowed to read or write scripture or preach God’s word.
In synagogues women were separated from men. They had to stand outside behind the grills. They were excluded in the formation of the Quorum required for communal worship. Even in the gospel we are told of 5000 men not counting the women and children. The most sacred prayers of Judaism could be recited only in the presence of 10 free men not women.
And in the light of all this we see God breaking all the barriers imposed by culture. In His desire to save the world he could have planned something different yet He decided on the Incarnation. And in deciding on the incarnation He could have come up with a number of ways. But from the “Cradle to the Cross” or from “the Womb to the Tomb” He chose a woman-Mary. Mary bursting into the Magnificat which has become like the Magna Carte calling humanity to topple the unjust system to break the chorus of oppression, to give voice to the voiceless- especially woman. Mary sang about her God of freedom.
Along with Mary there are four other women who have lowly links in the Lineage of Jesus the Messiah. Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba. God selected these woman whom society considered weak and even wanton and filled them with strength and made them full of Grace.
The Woman in the Life of Jesus :
- Mary : Mother of Christ
Mother Mary was a good and pious woman. Galatians 4:4 tells us that …4But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law. It is true that Eve yielded to temptation of sin first and then tempted her husband. But let us not forget that it is through Mary’s obedience and her Yes that made salvation possible for you and me.
- Anna : The prophetess. Luke 2:36,37
36There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband only seven years of her marriage, 37and then she was a widow until she was eighty-four.[5] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Anna was used to confirm that Jesus was the expected Messiah and deliverer which Israel has awaited.
- Forgiven Woman: An Evangelist
In the Bible both men and women followed Christ. Women were blessed, forgiven and healed same as men. A woman who had five husbands and living with a man was forgiven of all her sins. As a proof Jesus never held anything against women, she became His first evangelist. John 4:28,29,39. 28Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29"Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ[2] ?" 30They came out of the town and made their way toward him. 39Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41And because of his words many more became believers. She brought the whole village to Jesus.
- Women at the Cross
In John 19:25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. In Mark 15:47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus saw where he was laid. The last person at the cross was a woman.
Where were the men?
- Disciples Fled (Matthew 26:56) Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
- Peter followed him at a Distance (Matthew 26:58) But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.
- Peter denied him (Matthew 26:72) He denied it again, with an oath: "I don't know the man!"
- Mark ran away (Mark 14:51,52) Then everyone deserted him and fled.. A young man, (Mark ) wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
Women at the resurrection
- The first person at the tomb (John 20:1) Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.
- First person to announce (Matthew 28:8) So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
- A woman preached the first sermon on the resurrection ( John 20:17,18) 17Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.
Where were all the brave men? On the morning of the resurrection? A woman was there. And so we see what Jesus did was simply mind blowing . The first to receive the good news was a woman. During the Passover we see Jesus speaking to the weeping woman of Jerusalem. Tradition tells us that Veronica dares wipe the adorable face of Jesus ignoring the insults of the soldiers. From this we see that our Lord has chosen women for a purpose and I know that one day in heaven His thoughts will not be like the thoughts of men The first will be last and the last will be first. So as we celebrate Women’s day, let us remember we women are liberated in Jesus. So let us not fear, for with the Lord with us who can be against us. Amen